DT e-Paper 25 March 2017

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DT 10 Editorial SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 TODAY To add to our history Genocide Day would be useful for the United Nations in general, and overall international community in particular PAGE 11 In light of the shadow British PM has added that there are about 3,000 such homegrown operatives in UK PAGE 12 SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN Never forget India’s democracy is imperfect, but hardly doomed If independent India’s history shows something to emulate, it is that with certain foundational pillars even an imperfect democracy develops mechanisms to counter dangers PAGE 13 Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/ DhakaTribune. The views expressed in opinion articles are those of the authors alone and they are not the official view of Dhaka Tribune or its publisher. The government’s decision to commemorate March 25 as Genocide Day is a great way to remember our history. This is an important step towards remembering all the atrocities that had taken place under Pakistan’s oppressive regime, and those who had given their lives in the struggle for our independence. This struggle is one that we, as a people, cannot afford to forget. Bangladesh has come so far as a nation since that fateful day when thousands were killed after our Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared this soil to be an independent one. We have truly made our mark on the world stage, with our RMG sector one of the most sought after in the world. Digital Bangladesh has seen immense progress as the government has invested time and money to ensure that Bangladeshis receive the latest in information technology. We have met many of the SDGs and MDGs that the UN had set with much aplomb, surpassing all expectations. And we have worked towards reinvigorating the infrastructure in our cities and throughout the country, to put up better, stronger, and more efficient structures in place to improve the lives of our citizens. But as we move forward, we must remember to look back. We must remember the countless lives lost, and the invaluable struggle of every single person who was a part of the movement that would see the birth of a brand new nation. And with it, we must also remember the harrowing tragedy of the Black Night of March 25. It is the day we, as a people, announced that we were strong, that we were united, that we would not give up without a fight. This March 25, let’s remember our history. Let’s remember our history with such spirit that it is a history we, and the rest of the world, may never forget. It is the day we, as a people, announced that we were strong, that we were united, that we would not give up without a fight
To add to our history Genocide Day is a great way to commemorate our national history Opinion 11 DT SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 This March 25, let’s add further glory and pride to our story of national freedoms SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN peace and security by proposing the UN General Assembly adoption of Resolution on UNled multilateral intervention to combat genocide. National, regional, and global think-tanks as well as academic, research, and policy-focused institutions should be able to generate further intensive information and knowledge on the injustice, tyranny, mass killing, and indiscriminate destruction that centred the 1971 genocide and the extent and magnitude of brutality and inhumanity throughout the period. At a time when crimes against humanity in 1971 are investigated and trials held, and the country reinforces determination to fight terror and social evils, observance of Genocide Day will broaden priorities and opportunities to strengthen recorded history on sufferings and trauma that plagued the country in 1971, highlight people’s resistance and the armed struggle to wipe out foreign occupation. • Mohammed Parvez Imdad “Crimes against humanity anywhere at any point in time are crimes against humanity and civilisation for all times” - Anonymous The government’s decision to observe March 25 as “Genocide Day” is highly significant and adds another key milestone in highlighting our national history. The genocide by Pakistan occupation forces was unprecedented and most brutal in contemporary history. In terms of intensity, scale, and magnitude, the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh manifests one of the most aggressive violations of human rights this century. The March 25, 1971 genocide was aimed not only at killing millions, but also at dismantling democratic process and institutions, wiping out human rights reflected in International Human Rights covenants and the UN Charter itself. Marking March 25 as “Genocide Day” would not only add value to the momentum of reflecting our historic struggle for freedom, but would also facilitate enhancing the level of global awareness, understanding, and reflection on how the people of Bangladesh resisted the occupation forces. On one hand, this will remind the international community of the crimes and atrocities committed by Pakistan occupation forces, and on the other, widen information and knowledge of the international community with regards to the core historical objectives, principles, facts, and realities based on which Bangladesh emerged as a sovereign, independent state. It is extremely important to deeply explore the insights of our statehood through the War of Liberation, the historic leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the supreme sacrifices of our freedom fighters, as well as the valuable role, contribution, and engagement of all segments of society. This will enable further historical insights on our struggle for freedom, and reflect issues related to consistently widening economic disparities and deprivation from 1947-1971, the denial of core democratic values and rights of the Bengalis. Genocide Day will also remind the world of how the country struggled and fought for freedom, and its key stages (from the Language movement in 1952 to the War of Liberation, and final victory in 1971). There is need to refer to the massive international support through the whole nine months of our War of Liberation. During this time, the occupation regime resorted to falsehood and distortion and suppression of facts. Such manipulation, however, could not shade the inevitable course of national history. Keeping the above in view, the following proposed actions should be important and relevant: Similar to observance of International Mother Language Day, Bangladesh representations and missions abroad should be able to make useful contribution in this regard. There is need to brief respective countries of accreditation on the significance of Genocide Day and ensure events and extensive media coverage for the occasion. In this context it would be useful to ask countries to update their official records that should clearly refer to the genocide by Pakistan occupation forces, and trace key events and milestones leading to our freedom in 1971. Genocide Day will be able to dispel misleading rhetorics and baseless views by Pakistani leadership and media on the War of Liberation in 1971. This will present an opportunity to show to the international community how vested interests tamper truth, conceal reason, and camouflage historical realities. Further to this, Genocide Day will be instrumental in cautioning us against treacherous distortion of historical facts. Genocide Day will propel structured and prudent responses Genocide Day would be useful for the United Nations in general, and overall international community in particular rejecting baseless and illmotivated distortions, despite historical evidence. Genocide Day would be useful for the United Nations in general, and overall international community in particular -- to keep track of deviations from human rights in relations between states, and also guard against and resist possibilities of atrocities by any country in the future. Based on lessons from the past, the UN may be better equipped to enrich analytical discourse and determine appropriate course of intervention in countries/regions facing genocide. Through Genocide Day, Bangladesh may consider providing UN Anti-Genocide Covenants that should be linked to Principles and Declarations of Human Rights and statutes, provisions, and procedures relating to the International Criminal Court. Bangladesh can make a historical and muchneeded contribution to global While significant work and research have already been undertaken on our War of Liberation, there is need to undertake further analytical review, insights, and research on our freedom movement, the War of Liberation, and the treasured essence and valued perspectives for our statehood. As the country moves towards higher growth and further strengthening of the economy with appropriate vision and strategy and with extensive engagement of the people, there is need to add further glory and pride in our story of national freedom and advancement -- that should be useful not only for our succeeding generations, but also for the world of tomorrow. • Dr Mohammed Parvez Imdad is a senior economist, policy analyst, researcher, and academic based in Manila, the Philippines. He worked for 35 years in the National and International Civil Service.
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